FRISCO, TEXAS — After an embarrassing playoff loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in January, the Dallas Cowboys have vowed to “go all in” this offseason, and despite months of teasing, However you define it, the organization is tasked with the job given to them in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That's especially true at the running back position, seeing as Tony Pollard left to join the Tennessee Titans in free agency just one season after the Cowboys parted ways with Ezekiel Elliott. With question marks hanging over the running back room, what are the odds that Dallas' front office will select a running back in late April given the level of talent available?
In our new series, “High Low,” we'll be digging deeper into this, with each edition focusing on a different position group heading into draft week.
Odds: very high
- Rico Doodle: A few things hold true when it comes to Dowdle. The first is that he's proven to be a more than capable running back at the NFL level who can stay healthy, which makes him worthy of being re-signed this offseason. Second, it's only a one-year contract. In other words, keeping him doesn't prevent the Cowboys from valuing their chances of acquiring him in the NFL Draft. With so much unproven talent behind him, Doodle was never asked to handle the workload of RB1.
- Malik Davis: Davis is the most experienced player in the room not named Dowdle, but he [only] Although in his third year in the league, he doesn't have many notable achievements on his resume. The former Gator stepped in as the RB3 behind Elliott and Pollard when Dowdle went down with an injury and showed a lot of promise as a rookie. But he has struggled to break through since then, including against 2023 rookies Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke. This camp will be extremely important for him.
- Deuce Vaughn: Speaking of Vaughn, what made things even more discouraging for Davis has to be the fact that Vaughn struggled mightily when given touches as a rookie. He has as much change and quickness as you'll see in the league, but his skill set wasn't on full display last season. It's going to be an uphill battle for talented young running backs to make a name for themselves in year two, especially considering the trajectory of Hunter Lupke and the possibility of adding a running back in the draft.
- hunter lupke: Although technically listed as a fullback, Luepke has the ability to take on some of the RB load as well as act as a lead blocker when needed. He made great strides as the season progressed, and after crawling out of the proverbial doghouse (a goal-line fumble that caused the Cowboys to lose the game in Miami), he performed well in the backfield, along with the fact that he was in pass protection. demonstrated that this is a possible option. has also made progress. Still, it's still not enough for the head coach to expect a season to prove himself.
- snoop connerConner, who is also one of the most inexperienced players in the group, joined the Cowboys on a futures contract this offseason and is expected to remain behind Davis and Dowdle throughout minicamp, training camp, and possibly the preseason. You will be competing against players from He only had 12 carries in the NFL, entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, and spent the entire 2023 season on the practice squad before being released.
No matter how you slice it, the Cowboys approach this year's draft with plenty of urgency to address the running back position, and their list of 30 official visits at the position is proof of that point. .
